Smith found the net four times and dished out four assists, helping
the Diplomats (10-2, 5-2 CC) earn a spot in next weekend's CC playoffs and snap
a 15-game losing streak to the Bullets (9-4, 5-2 CC). F&M's last victory in the
series was an 18-8 decision in the teams' 1990 season finale.
Diplomat face-off specialist Matt Capone also keyed the victory by
winning 21 of 31 draws and collecting 18 ground balls on the day. Goalie Mike
Sartorius made nine saves while withstanding 45 Gettysburg shots.

The loss overshadowed a breakout day for the Bullets' freshman
attacking combo of Evan Gallant (Lutherville, MD/Loyola Blakefield) and Chase
Stewart (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown). Gallant netted six goals - doubling his
career high in the process - while Stewart dished out a career-best six assists
on the day. Jake Van Nostrand (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin) also chipped in with a goal
and three assists.

After an even first 15 minutes, Franklin & Marshall exploded for
eight goals in the second quarter to take control of the game.
Nolan opened the barrage with a curling unassisted goal just 40
seconds into the period, putting the Diplomats ahead to stay.
An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Gettysburg at 11:58 led to a
non-releaseable extra-man opportunity for F&M, and the visitors took full
advantage. Bas Solleveld ripped home a shot 22 seconds into the penalty for a
two-goal edge and Nolan finished a feed from Smith 19 seconds later for another
extra-man goal to make it 6-3.
Singer scored in transition at the 9:20 mark and J.B. Robichau
found the net after scooping up a loose ball at 7:32 for an 8-3 Diplomat lead,
forcing a Bullet timeout.

Gallant, John O'Bannon (Marshall, VA/Highland) and Kevin Smith
(Baltimore, MD/McDonogh) answered for Gettysburg in a span of 3 minutes, 14
seconds to pull the Bullets within 8-6 with 2:44 left in the half.
F&M, however, needed just over two minutes to restore the entire five-goal
lead. Smith sandwiched a pair of markers around an unassisted tally by Steve
Welsh to give the Diplomats an 11-6 lead at the break.

Behind a pair of goals from Gallant, Gettysburg used a 4-1 run across the third
quarter to pull within two, cutting the lead to 12-10 on Tripp Neville's
(Duxbury, MA/Duxbury) blast with 1:05 left in the third. Seconds later,
Sartorius preserved the two-goal margin with big save on Sean McTernan
(Cordlandt Manor, NY/Hendrick Hudson).
Smith dished out behind-the-net assists on goals by Nolan and Colin Hanley in a
span of 56 seconds to give the Diplomats a 14-10 cushion with 11:45 remaining.
Gallant scored his fifth and sixth goals of the game off feeds from Stewart to
pull the Bullets within two, but Nolan scooped in a loose ball with 3:16 left
and the F&M defense clamped down in the final minutes to preserve the victory.
Tim McGinnis (Ellicott City, MD/Loyola Blakefield) finished with 10 saves for
Gettysburg. The Bullets converted 2 of 3 extra-man opportunities on the
afternoon while the Diplomats went 3-for-7 with the man-advantage.

Gettysburg wraps up its regular season at McDaniel on Tuesday. Game time is 4
p.m. The Bullets have clinched a spot in the CC semifinals, which will be held
in Chestertown, Md., on Friday. Gettysburg could still finish with the
tournament's No. 2 seed.